Jeffrey Sears, teacher and coach, pleads guilty to having sex with Glen Burnie students

A Maryland teacher pleaded guilty today after having sex with three teenagers.

Jeffrey Sears appeared in the Anne Arundel County Courthouse today to enter the plea, admitting that he used his positions as teacher and coach at Glen Burnie High School to engage in a series of improper physical relationships with 15- and 16-year-old female students.

Earlier at the high school, parents and former students told ABC7 they're thankful Sears got caught.

"I think its horrendous," says Billie Kenny, a Glen Burnie resident. "I think that you ought be able to send your child to school without having to worry about a teacher being overly friendly with them."

"He should be locked up," says Chuck Tate, a former student. "It's against the law. We have rules. Gotta keep your hands to yourself."

Sears, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of sex abuse of a minor and one count of 4th degree sex assault. The three victims, whose identities we are protecting, were in court and listened as prosecutors described how Sears befriended the girls and then in his own classroom pushed them into sexual relationships.

The victims and their parents all declined comment. Sears was removed from the school last November and arrested in December.

The plea deal calls for 10 years behind bars and he will have to register as a sex offender.

His lawyer says Sears accepts responsibility and will express his remorse at the appropriate time.